Device for producing the representation of a snow-storm.



E. O. BRUEN. DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THE REPRESENTATION OF A SNOW STORM.

AP ILIOATIOI FILED OUT. 19, 1907'. v 901,31 9. Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

' a laterally extendingTflange EDWIN C. BRUEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THE REPRESENTATION OF A SNOW-STORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed October 19, 1907. Serial No. 398,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. BRUEN, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Producinthe Representation of a Snow-Storm, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a novel amusement device particularly designedfor use in connection with Christmas trees.

The main feature which characterizes my invention resides in mechanicalmeans for producing an artificial snow storm, or in other words therepresentation of a snow storm.

My invention also includes details of construction and operation all ashereinafter described and pointed out in the claims concludin thisspecification.

In t e accompanying drawing illustrating my invention in the severalfigures of which like parts are designated by similar letters ofreference, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a Christmas tree having myinvention a plied thereto. Fig. 2, is a side view in e evation andpartly in section of the device embodying my invention, and Fig. 3, isan enlarged detail view of one of the artificial snow flakes I refer toemploy. Fig. 4., is a side view part y in section of a modification.

Referring particularly to Fi s. 1 and 2, A dcsi ates a box or receptac epreferably ma e in the shape ofa bird-house. The receptacle A, isprovided with an upper crossbar B, and lower cross-bar C these barsextendin across the interior of the receptacle A, an bein secured to theside walls D, D, thereo in any app-r0 riate manner.

A verticalshaft E, is centra l y mounted in the receptacle A, the upperend of this shaft passing through a suitable opening in the 11 percross-bar B, and being secured in pl ace by the ring F; the lower end ofthis shaft passes through a similar opening in the lower cram-bar C, andis rovided' with which rests ontop of the bar C. hese openings throughthe cross-bars constitute in efiect the bearings'for the shaft E, when arocking motion is imparted to the latter as hereinafter described. Asshown the shaft E, is a hollow or tubular shaft closed at its upper end,and

ha .inthat part of its tower end extendb but the receptacle A, a seriesof per-- forations H. Near the lower end of the shaft and above the barG, a sleeve I is keyed to the shaft and a plurality of rods orprojections J, are fixed to this sleeve and extend therefrom radiallywithin the receptacle A. Any desired number of these projections may beemployed.

K, designates a curved rod rigidly connected to the shaft E, near thetop thereof and below the cross-bar B, the rod K, extending upwardly andoutwardly and preferably terminating in an enlarged end K. As shown theend K of the rod K, is in contact with an air bellows L. The bellows L,is secured in place to the side wall D, of the receptacle A, in anysuitable manner, and from this bellows a rubber tube M, extendsdownwardly and is connected to the upper end of a tube N, the lower endof which is attached to the upper end of and leads into the hollowstandard 0. A rubber tube M, is secured to the lower end of the standard0, and thence extends and is connected to an air pump P, or othersuitable air forcing apparatus. The receptacle A, is rigidly mountedupon the standard O, by means of the curved arms Q, which arerespectively attached by suitable means to the standard 0, and sidewalls of the receptacle A. The bottom of the receptacle A, preferablyconsists of a wire netting or screen R, which acts as a sieve for thecontents thereof as I will presently describe. A mechanical or toy birdS, may be mounted in any appropriate manner on top of the standard 0,and a portion of the air ascending throu h the standard 0, becommunicated to the ird S, by means of the tube T. Instead of the birdS, any other appropriate toy actuated by air pressure may be employed.

In the modification of m invention shown in Fig. 4, the standard andparts connected therewith are omitted, and the receptacle A, is inclosedby a globular shaped shield U, and both are suspended from an over headwire V, by hooks or eyes W. In this construction the tube M, passes uwardly through the top of the rece' tacle over the wire V, and is leddirect y to the air ump P, which may be located at any desire fpolnt.

Re erring to Figs. 1 and 2, the receptacle A, being mounted 1n the topof a Christmas tree X, oywiring or tying the standard (3, to the tree,or attaching the same in any other convenient manner, the operation ofthis device is as follows: The receptacle A, being filled with finelycut white paper such, for instance, as what is known as confetti, theair pump P, is operated to force a current of air through the tube M,standard 0, tube N, and tube M, to the bellows L, thereby expanding thelatter. With each expansion of the bellows L, the latter moves the rodK, thus rotating and imparting a rocking mo tion to the shaft E witheach rotation of the shaft by the means just described a spring Z,coiled around the shaft E, one end of which is secured to said shaft,and the other to the bar B, is tensioned and acts to rotate or rock theshaft in the opposite direction as the air leaves the bellows L, and thelatter collapses. The shaft is thus alternately rocked first in onedirection and then in the other as long as air is forced into thebellows L. As the shaft rotates to and fro the radial projections J,separate and disintegrate the mass of paper or confetti, and with eachrocking or rotation of the shaft a shower of the paper particles orconfetti will fall through the openings in the netting or screen R, anddrop or float downwardly like a natural fall of snow. The air escapingfrom the bellows L, as the latter collapses, passes by means of a tube Minto and down the shaft E, and then outwardly in jets through theperforations H, serving the purose of blowing the paper particles indiffierent directions and thus enhancing the snow storm effect! As thedevice is in operation a portion of the air current ascending throughthe standard 0, can be utilized by means of the small tube T, to causethe toy bird S, to

whistle thus simulating the singing of a natural bird.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the construction and operation ofmy device is the same as shown in Fig. 2, excepting that the standard 0,arms Q, tube N, bird S, and tube T, are all omitted and the tube M, iscarried upwardly through the top of the receptacle A, over the wire V,and thence to the pump P, as stated. In this-modified construction thereceptacle A, when used in connection with a Christmas tree is to besuspended by means of the wire V, above the tree, and this wire may bestretched from one wall to the other in a room and secured at each endto the picture molding, or to hooks, or in any convenient manner.Instead of usin the wire V, the device may be suspen ed directly from aceilin hook.

When the modified form of my invention is employed it may also be usedto send out showers of confetti in a ball room, or it may be utilized inconnection with masquerade parties, carnivals, childrens parties,theatrical exhibitions etc: I prefer to use in connection with my deviceconfetti of the boomerang shape in general outline as shown in theenlarged view Fig. 3, as I have found in practice that paper particlesor confetti of this shape are quickly affected by air currents and thusfloat downwardly to a certain extent like falling snow.

In the manufacture of this device any materials suitable for the purposemay be employed and, therefore, I do not think it necessary to describethe same.

The receptacle A, standard 0, and shield U, may be painted or otherwiseattractively decorated. For instance to give the effect of a winterscene, the receptacle A, and shield U, may be varnished and coated withmica and be provided with artistically arranged imitation icicles. Asshown the shield is provided with a tassel like fringe which may be indifl'erent colors to give an attractive finish.

The receptacle A, and shield U may be of any desired shape, and insteadof a bottom R, composed of a wire netting or screen, the bottom may bemade of other material and provided with openings or perforationstherein suitable for the purpose.

It is obvious that instead of the rods J, projections from the shaft Eof any desired shape or configuration may be employed provided theyanswer the purpose of separating the mass of paper partlcles orconfetti.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a device for producing the representation of a snow storm areceptacle provided with a perforated bottom and containing particles ofmaterial representing snow flakes a vertical shaft mounted in saidreceptacle, a plurality of fixed projections on said shaft, and meansfor automatically rockin said shaft first in one direction and then inthe opposite direction, substantially as described.

2. In a device for producing the re resentation of a snow storm areceptacle f dr material .representing snow flakes, a sieve like bottomfor said receptacle, a vertical shaft mounted in said receptacle, aplurality of fixed rojections on said shaft, a fixed rod exten ing fromsaid shaft, an air bellows in contact with said rod, means for expandingsaid bellows to impart motion to sald shaft in one direction and aspring to move said shaft in the opposite direction, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device for producing the re resentation of a snow storm areceptacle or material re resenting snow flakes, a sieve like bottom orsaid receptacle, a hollow vertical shaft mounted in said receptacle andhaving a series of perforations in its lower end, a plurality of fixedprojections on said shaft, a fixed rod extending from said shaft, anairbellows in contact with said rod, means for forcing an air currentthrough said bellows to expand the sametherebv imparting-motion to saidshaft in one direction and a spring to move said shaft in the oppositedirection when said bellows collapses, the said air current passingoutwardly throu h the perforations in the end of said sha t,substantially as described.

4. In a device for producing the representation of a snow storm areceptacle provided with a sieve-like bottom and containing paperparticles, a supportin standard for said receptacle, a vertical s aftmounted in said receptacle, a plurality of projections extending fromsaid shaft and means for automatically rocking said shaft first in onedirection and then in the opposite direction, substantially asdescribed.

Signed at New York city, in the county 15 and State of New York, this15" day of October A. D. 1907.

EDWIN O. BRUEN.

Witnesses:

KATHRYN R. BRoMM, CHARLES v. BRETT.

